Motorboat operator provisions modified; game and fish license, reporting, and penalty provisions modified; penalties for false statements and alterations of applications, licenses, permits, and registrations created; invasive species provisions modified; and other natural resources provisions modified.

A bill for an act

relating to natural resources; modifying motorboat operator provisions; modifying

game and fish license, reporting, and penalty provisions; creating penalties for

false statements and alterations of certain applications, licenses, permits, and

registrations; modifying invasive species provisions; requiring off-road vehicle

state trail pass to be available for inspection; modifying provisions for annual

reports on water use; eliminating lake trout expanded assessment harvest; providing

criminal penalties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 84.8035,

subdivision 1; 84.82, by adding a subdivision; 84.8205, by adding a subdivision;

84D.01, by adding a subdivision; 84D.05, subdivision 1; 85.053, by adding a

subdivision; 86B.30, subdivision 4; 86B.303, subdivision 2; 86B.306, subdivision

1; 97A.311, subdivisions 1, 2, by adding a subdivision; 97A.411, by adding a

subdivision; 97A.485, subdivision 6; 97C.417; 97C.835, subdivision 2; 103G.291,

subdivision 3; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 84;

85; 86B; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.836.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

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[84.7885] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.

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Subdivision 1.

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Violations.

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With regard to any registration or temporary registration

issued under section 84.788, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:

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(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the

intent to follow through with a sale and registration;

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(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through

misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or

materially untrue information in the registration application; or

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(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or

fraudulent registration or decal.

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Subd. 2.

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Penalties.

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(a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or

registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.

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(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

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Sec. 2.

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[84.7985] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.

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Subdivision 1.

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Violations.

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With regard to any registration or temporary registration

issued under section 84.798, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:

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(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the

intent to follow through with a sale and registration;

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(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through

misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or

materially untrue information in the registration application; or

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(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or

fraudulent registration or decal.

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Subd. 2.

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Penalties.

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(a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or

registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.

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(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

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Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.8035, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Pass required; fee.

(a) Except as provided under paragraph (c), a person

may not operate an off-road vehicle on a state or grant-in-aid off-road vehicle trail or use

area unless the
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vehicle displays an
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operator carries a valid
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off-road vehicle state trail pass

issued according to this section. The pass must be available
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to be viewed
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for inspection
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by

a peace officer, a conservation officer, or an employee designated under section
84.0835
.

(b) The commissioner of natural resources shall issue a pass upon application and payment

of the fee. Fees collected under this section, except for the issuing fee for licensing agents,

shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the off-road vehicle account in the

natural resources fund and, except for the electronic licensing system commission established

by the commissioner under section
84.027
, subdivision 15, must be used for grants-in-aid

to counties and municipalities for off-road vehicle organizations to construct and maintain

off-road vehicle trails and use areas.

(c) An off-road vehicle state trail pass is not required for:

(1) an off-road vehicle that is owned and used by the United States, another state, or a

political subdivision thereof that is exempt from registration under section
84.798
, subdivision

2;

(2) a person operating an off-road vehicle only on the portion of a trail that is owned by

the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent; or

(3) a person operating an off-road vehicle that is registered according to section
84.798
.

(d) The fee for an annual nonresident off-road vehicle state trail pass is $20. The

nonresident pass is valid from January 1 through December 31. The fee for a nonresident

three-year pass is $30.

(e) The fee for a resident off-road vehicle state trail pass is $20. The resident pass is

valid for 30 consecutive days after the date of issuance.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective upon full implementation of the

replacement electronic license system. The commissioner of natural resources must notify

the revisor of statutes when the replacement electronic license system is fully implemented.

new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.82, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

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Subd. 12.

new text end

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Unlawful acts related to registration.

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(a) It is unlawful for any person:

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(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the

intent to follow through with a sale and registration;

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(2) to register or attempt to register a snowmobile through misrepresentation or fraud

by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information

in the registration application; or

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(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or

fraudulent registration or decal.

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new text begin

(b) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or decal that is the subject

of a violation under paragraph (a) is void.

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(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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(d) A dealer who violates paragraph (a) is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84.8205, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

new text begin

Subd. 7.

new text end

new text begin

Penalties.

new text end

new text begin

A person who makes a false statement related to an application for

a snowmobile state trail pass, materially alters or creates a fictitious snowmobile state trail

pass, or uses or attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent

snowmobile state trail pass is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the pass is rendered void.

new text end

Sec. 6.

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[84.9225] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO REGISTRATION.

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Subdivision 1.

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Violations.

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With regard to any registration or temporary registration

issued under section 84.922, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:

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(1) to issue, obtain, or use a dealer temporary 21-day registration permit without the

intent to follow through with a sale and registration;

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(2) to obtain, attempt to obtain, or assist in obtaining a registration through

misrepresentation or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or

materially untrue information in the registration application; or

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(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or

fraudulent registration or decal.

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Subd. 2.

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Penalties.

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(a) A dealer temporary 21-day registration permit, registration, or

registration sticker that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.

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(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

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(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

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Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84D.01, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

new text begin

Subd. 6a.

new text end

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Eviscerated.

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new text begin

"Eviscerated" means to have the internal organs removed from

the body cavity or to have the gills severed to ensure that an organism is dead.

new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 84D.05, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Prohibited activities.

A person may not possess, import, purchase, sell,

propagate, transport, or introduce a prohibited invasive species, except:

(1) under a permit issued by the commissioner under section
84D.11
;

(2) in the case of purple loosestrife, as provided by sections
18.75
to
18.88
;

(3) under a restricted species permit issued under section
17.457
;

new text begin

(4) a person may possess, import, purchase, sell, and transport bighead carp, grass carp,

and silver carp if the fish are eviscerated;

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deleted text begin

(4)
deleted text end
new text begin
(5)
new text end
when being transported to the department, or another destination as the

commissioner may direct, in a sealed container for purposes of identifying the species or

reporting the presence of the species;

deleted text begin

(5)
deleted text end
new text begin
(6)
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when being transported for disposal as part of a harvest or control activity when

specifically authorized under a permit issued by the commissioner according to section

103G.615
, when being transported for disposal as specified under a commercial fishing

license issued by the commissioner according to section
97A.418
,
97C.801
,
97C.811
,

97C.825
,
97C.831
, or
97C.835
, or when being transported as specified by the commissioner;

deleted text begin

(6)
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new text begin
(7)
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when being removed from watercraft and equipment, or caught while angling,

and immediately returned to the water from which they came;

deleted text begin

(7)
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new text begin
(8)
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when being transported from riparian property to a legal disposal site that is at

least 100 feet from any surface water, ditch, or seasonally flooded land, provided the

prohibited invasive species are in a covered commercial vehicle specifically designed and

used for hauling trash; or

deleted text begin

(8)
deleted text end
new text begin
(9)
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as the commissioner may otherwise prescribe by rule.

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 85.053, is amended by adding a subdivision to

read:

new text begin

Subd. 11.

new text end

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Penalties.

new text end

new text begin

A person who makes a false statement related to an application for

a state park permit, materially alters or creates a fictitious state park permit, or uses or

attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent state park permit is

guilty of a misdemeanor, and the permit is void.

new text end

Sec. 10.

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[85.48] PENALTIES; FALSE STATEMENTS OR ALTERATIONS.

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Subdivision 1.

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False statement.

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A person who makes a false statement related to an

application for a cross-country-ski pass or a horse pass is guilty of a misdemeanor, and the

pass is void.

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Subd. 2.

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Altered or fictitious pass.

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new text begin

A person who materially alters or creates a fictitious

cross-country-ski pass or horse pass or uses or attempts to use a materially altered, fictitious,

or otherwise fraudulent cross-country-ski pass or horse pass is guilty of a misdemeanor,

and the pass is void.

new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.30, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Exempt operator.

"Exempt operator" means a motorboat operator, including

a personal watercraft operator, who is 12 years of age or older and who:

(1) possesses a valid license to operate a motorboat issued for maritime personnel by

the United States Coast Guard under Code of Federal Regulations, title 46, part 10, or a

marine certificate issued by the Canadian government;

(2) is not a resident of the state, is temporarily using the waters of the state for a period

not to exceed 60 days, and:

(i) meets any applicable requirements of the state or country of residency; or

(ii) possesses a Canadian pleasure craft operator's card;

(3) is operating a motorboat under a dealer's license according to section
86B.405
;
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or
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(4) is operating a motorboat during an emergency
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; or
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(5) was born:

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(i) before July 1, 2004, effective July 1, 2025;

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(ii) before July 1, 2000, effective July 1, 2026;

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(iii) before July 1, 1996, effective July 1, 2027; and

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(iv) before July 1, 1987, effective July 2, 2028.

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Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.303, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Young operators.

(a) A young operator may not operate a personal watercraft

or any motorboat powered by a motor with a factory rating of
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more than
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75 horsepower
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or

more
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.

(b) A young operator may operate a motorboat that is not a personal watercraft and that

is powered by a motor with a factory rating of less than 75 horsepower if an accompanying

operator is in the motorboat.

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 86B.306, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Requirements.

A motorboat rental business must not rent or lease a

motorboat, including a personal watercraft, to any person for operation on waters of this

state unless the renter or lessee
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is 18 years of age or older and
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:

(1) has a valid watercraft operator's permit
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or
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;
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(2)
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is an exempt operator;
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and
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or
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(2) is 18 years of age or older.

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(3) has taken the short boater safety examination within the previous 180 days.

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Sec. 14.

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[86B.425] UNLAWFUL ACTS RELATED TO LICENSE.

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Subdivision 1.

new text end

new text begin

Violations.

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With regard to any license issued under section 86B.401,

86B.405, or 86B.411, it is unlawful for any person or dealer:

new text end

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(1) to issue, obtain, or use a temporary license certificate without the intent to follow

through with the license application and sale;

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new text begin

(2) to obtain or attempt to obtain a license or registration sticker through misrepresentation

or fraud by knowingly providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue

information in the license application; or

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new text begin

(3) to display, cause or permit to be displayed, or have in possession any fictitious or

fraudulent license or registration sticker.

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Subd. 2.

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Penalties.

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(a) A temporary license certificate, license, or registration sticker

that is the subject of a violation under subdivision 1 is void.

new text end

new text begin

(b) A person who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.

new text end

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(c) A dealer who violates subdivision 1 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

new text end

Sec. 15.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

deleted text begin
Altering
deleted text end
new text begin
Fictitious or altered
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license
new text begin
or permit
new text end
.

A person that alters a

license
new text begin
or permit
new text end
in a material manner
new text begin
, creates a fictitious license or permit, buys or sells a

fictitious or materially altered license or permit, or uses or attempts to use a materially

altered, fictitious, or otherwise fraudulent license or permit
new text end
is guilty of a misdemeanor
new text begin
and

subject to the penalties in subdivision 7
new text end
.

Sec. 16.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

False statement.

A person that knowingly makes a false statement related to

an application for a license
deleted text begin
,
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new text begin
or permit or related to
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a license,
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permit,
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or certificate
deleted text begin
,
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required

by or issued under the game and fish laws
deleted text begin
,
deleted text end
is guilty of a misdemeanor
new text begin
and subject to the

penalties in subdivision 7
new text end
.

Sec. 17.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.311, is amended by adding a subdivision

to read:

new text begin

Subd. 7.

new text end

new text begin

Penalties.

new text end

new text begin

A license or permit that is the subject of a violation under subdivision

1 or 2 is void, and the person convicted of violating subdivision 1 or 2 is subject to the

following penalties:

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new text begin

(1) upon first conviction, the person may not obtain a license or permit of that type for

one year;

new text end

new text begin

(2) upon second conviction, all the person's licenses to take wild animals are void and

the person may not obtain a license to take a wild animal or a permit of that type for one

year; and

new text end

new text begin

(3) upon third conviction, all the person's licenses to take wild animals are void and the

person may not obtain a license to take a wild animal or a permit of that type for five years.

new text end

Sec. 18.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.411, is amended by adding a subdivision

to read:

new text begin

Subd. 5.

new text end

new text begin

Voluntary license invalidation.

new text end

new text begin

A person who establishes residency outside

the state may request in writing that their resident licenses be invalidated. No refunds of

the licenses or issuing fees may be issued.

new text end

Sec. 19.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97A.485, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Licenses to be sold and issuing fees.

(a) Persons authorized to sell licenses

under this section must issue the following licenses for the license fee and the following

issuing fees:

(1) to take deer or bear with firearms and by archery, the issuing fee is $1;

(2) Minnesota sporting, the issuing fee is $1;

(3) to take small game, to take fish by angling or by spearing, and to trap fur-bearing

animals, the issuing fee is $1;

(4) to apply for a limited hunt drawing, the issuing fee is $1 unless the application requires

a license purchase at the time of application and the license purchase requires an application

fee;

(5) for a prairie-chicken license, the issuing fee is $1;

(6) for a turkey license, the issuing fee is $1;

(7) for an elk license, the issuing fee is $1;

(8) for a moose license, the issuing fee is $1;

(9) for a wolf license, the issuing fee is $1;

(10) for a stamp validation that is not issued simultaneously with a license, an issuing

fee of 50 cents may be charged at the discretion of the authorized seller;

(11) for stamp validations issued simultaneously with a license, there is no fee;

(12) for licenses, seals, tags, or coupons issued without a fee under section
97A.441,

subdivisions 1
to 6a, or
97A.465
, there is no fee;

(13) for lifetime licenses, there is no fee; and

(14) for all other licenses, permits, renewals, or applications or any other transaction

through the electronic licensing system under this chapter or any other chapter when an

issuing fee is not specified, an issuing fee of $1 may be charged at the discretion of the

authorized seller.

(b) Only one issuing fee may be collected when selling more than one stamp in the same

transaction after the end of the season for which the stamp was issued.

(c) The agent shall keep the issuing fee as a commission for selling the licenses.

(d) The commissioner shall collect the issuing fee on licenses sold by the commissioner.

(e) A
new text begin
receipt for a
new text end
license, except stamps, must state the amount of the issuing fee and

that the issuing fee is kept by the seller as a commission for selling the licenses.

(f) For duplicate licenses, including licenses issued without a fee, the issuing fees are:

(1) for licenses to take big game, 75 cents; and

(2) for other licenses, 50 cents.

new text begin

EFFECTIVE DATE.

new text end

new text begin

This section is effective upon full implementation of the

replacement electronic license system. The commissioner of natural resources must notify

the revisor of statutes when the replacement electronic license system is fully implemented.

new text end

Sec. 20.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.417, is amended to read:

97C.417 REPORTING INVASIVE CARP.

A person who takes any of the following invasive carp species must report the type of

carp taken to the commissioner within seven days of taking:

(1) grass carp (
Ctenopharyngodon idella
);

(2) bighead carp (
Hypophthalmichthys nobilis
);
deleted text begin
or
deleted text end

(3) silver carp (
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
)
deleted text begin
.
deleted text end
new text begin
; or
new text end

new text begin

(4) black carp (
Mylopharyngodon piceus
).

new text end

Sec. 21.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.835, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Types of fish permitted.

Lake trout, ciscoes, chubs, alewives, lake whitefish,

round whitefish, pygmy whitefish, rainbow smelt, common carp,
new text begin
burbot,
new text end
and native rough

fish may be taken by licensed commercial fishing operators from Lake Superior, in

accordance with this section.

Sec. 22.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 103G.291, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Water supply plans; demand reduction.

(a) Every public water supplier

serving more than 1,000 people must submit a water supply plan to the commissioner for

approval by January 1, 1996. In accordance with guidelines developed by the commissioner,

the plan must address projected demands, adequacy of the water supply system and planned

improvements, existing and future water sources, natural resource impacts or limitations,

emergency preparedness, water conservation, supply and demand reduction measures, and

allocation priorities that are consistent with section
103G.261
. Public water suppliers must

update their plan and, upon notification, submit it to the commissioner for approval every

ten years.

(b) The water supply plan in paragraph (a) is required for all communities in the

metropolitan area, as defined in section
473.121
, with a municipal water supply system and

is a required element of the local comprehensive plan required under section
473.859
.

(c) Public water suppliers serving more than 1,000 people must encourage water

conservation by employing water use demand reduction measures, as defined in subdivision

4, paragraph (a), before requesting approval from the commissioner of health under section

144.383, paragraph (a)
, to construct a public water supply well or requesting an increase in

the authorized volume of appropriation. The commissioner of natural resources and the

water supplier shall use a collaborative process to achieve demand reduction measures as

a part of a water supply plan review process.

(d) Public water suppliers serving more than 1,000 people must submit records that

indicate the number of connections and amount of use by customer category and
new text begin
the
new text end
volume

of
new text begin
real and apparent
new text end
water
deleted text begin
unaccounted for
deleted text end
new text begin
losses
new text end
with the annual report of water use required

under section
103G.281, subdivision 3
.

(e) For the purposes of this section, "public water supplier" means an entity that owns,

manages, or operates a public water supply, as defined in section
144.382, subdivision 4
.

Sec. 23.
new text begin
REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 97C.836,

new text end

new text begin

is repealed.

new text end

APPENDIX

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 26-06077

97C.836 LAKE SUPERIOR LAKE TROUT; EXPANDED ASSESSMENT HARVEST.

The commissioner shall provide for taking of lake trout by licensed commercial operators in Lake Superior management zones MN-3 and MN-2 for expanded assessment and sale. The commissioner shall authorize expanded assessment taking and sale of lake trout in Lake Superior management zone MN-3 beginning annually in 2007 and zone MN-2 beginning annually in 2010. Total assessment taking and sale may not exceed 3,000 lake trout in zone MN-3 and 2,000 lake trout in zone MN-2 and may be reduced when necessary to protect the lake trout population or to manage the effects of invasive species or fish disease. Taking lake trout for expanded assessment and sale shall be allowed from June 1 through September 30, but may end earlier in the respective zones if the quotas are reached. The quotas must be reassessed at the expiration of the current ten-year Fisheries Management Plan for the Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior.